Hugh laird



HUGH LAIRD, OF' MEGHANICSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

Letters PatentNa. 78,294, dated ZIIay 26, 1868.

IMPROVEMENT IN HORSE HAY-FORKS.

tlge .tlgehule referer in in ttm rttets gatent tnt mating mrt tf itsstmt.'

TO ALL WHM IT MAY CONCER:

Be it -known that Il, HUGH LAIRD, of Mechanicsburg, in the county ofCumberland, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented neiv and usefulImprovementsin Hay-Elevating Forks; and I do hereby deelarethe followingto be a full and clear description of the same, sufcient to enableothers skilled in the art to which my invention app'ertains to fullyunderstand and use the same, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings which make part ot' this speciiication, and in whichi 4Figures1 and 2 are side elevations of my improved hay-elevating fork, showingthe' parte in different position. n

Figure 8 is a longitudinal section of thesame, and

Figure 4 is en edge view.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the severalfigures.

The subject of this invention -is a hay-elevating fork of the harpoonkind, and the invention consists in making the stock or main part out ofa single piece, or casting it entire; in the provision of an armprojecting horizontally from the upper end of `the fork, and serving tocarry an additional guide or loop for the tripping or ydischarging-rope,so as to prevent'the rotation of the fork while being elevated; andfinally, in the employment of a rigid bow or compressing-bar, attachedtotheslide which operates the tines or lifting-prongs, and

serving to contine a larger quantity of hazy upon said tines than thelatter could take up alone.

Inthe drawings, A may represent thestock or main part of the instrument,which is east entire, or othcrf wise fprmed so as to consist of but onepart. Within the stock A is a longitudinal opening containing the slideB, pivoted to the lower end of which are the tines or elevating-prongs CC. The prongs C are protruded, as shown clearly in figs. 1 and 3, whenthe slide B is depressed, the curved shape ot' the prongs, together withthe internal formation of the stock at its lower end, causing saidprongs to freely glide out through' the openings a a. Y Y

In the sidescof the stock are longitudinal slots a', which allow thefree vertical movement of a bow or curved bar D, which is krigidlyattached tov the slide B, and whichprojeots :1n equal' distance at eachside of the stock. v v l The operation of the above-described parts willbe readily understood. The slide B being elevated so as to draw `theprongs C C within the stock A, and raise the bar D, as shown in iig. 2,the fork is thereby placed in readiness to penetrate the hay. The forkhaving been inserted into the hay, the slide B is depressed, inconsequence of which the prongs C C are forced out ofjthe stock, so asto occupy a position at right angles to thc stock/A, or nearly so,andthe bar D is simultaneously brought down and made to compress Athehay above or upon the prongs C C. These'relative positions of the partsare maintained by the engagement ofthe trigger E with the shoulderedrecess in the slide B, so that the hay raised upon the prongs C C issecurely retained thereupon by the curved compressing-bar D. Theelevating-rope is attached to the upper'end of the slide B, and thetrigger E is pivoted tothe stock A, so that, when the fork is raised tothe point'where the hay is to be deposited, the disengagement of thetrigger E from the shoulder of b allowsthe stock A to move downwardunder the Weight of its load, and thus the prongs C C are drawn withinthe stock while the pressure of har D is removed. The hay thus losingits support, is discharged. The trigger E is pulled by means of the ropeor cord F.

It is manifest that by the above-described device D, the lifting orretaining-capacity of the fork is greatly increased.

Projecting rigidly from the upper end of the stock A is an arm, G. Thetripping-rope F passes through an eye, loop, orother guide, at the outerend of the arm Gr, thence through a loop on the top of slide B, andthence to the trigger E, to whlch said rope is attached. The employmentof the arm G in connection with the tripping-rope subserves a veryuseful purpose, for it enables a person having hold of the tripping-ropeto prevent the rotatign of' the fork, and the consequent twisting oftheelevating-rope while the hay is being elevated.

The bar D is preferafbly curved as shown, but may be straight ifconvenience or circumstances should render suchform desirable.

Having thus rescribed my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-' The combination of the compressing :mdretaining-bar o`1" bow' Dyivith the elevating-tintas or prongs C C,operating substantially as and for the purpose described. Y

To the above specification of my improvement in hay-forks, I have signedmy name, this day, the eleventh of February, 1868.

' A, n Y HUGH LAIRD.

Witnesses:

JACOB HENRY, CEAS. D. SMITH.

